Google to launch Spaces app for more focused group sharing

Google hopes to make group messaging simpler and more focused with a new app called Spaces, the company announced Monday.

Articles, images and videos will be the center of group conversations, called "spaces," because of the app's built-in integration to other Google products such as Google Search, YouTube and Chrome. For example, you can invite friends to a space in which you discuss your favorite YouTube cat video or create a space to discuss an article about your least-favorite presidential candidate.

The Spaces app was scheduled to launch on Android, iOS, desktop and mobile web for all Gmail accounts on Monday, but it wasn't live as of 12:30 p.m. ET. Google has not immediately returned a request for comment.